Trying to Avoid a Trip to the Cleaners.(Column)

BYLINE: Colin Barrett

Q:I am having a discussion with another carrier regarding whether a carrier is liable for prepaid freight charges that are not added to the merchandise invoice when a claim is filed for the destination value of a lost or destroyed shipment.

The other carrier wants to pay the claim at the full destination invoice amount, in addition to repaying the prepaid freight charges.

I thought my position was fairly basic to the claim rules. Have I lost my mind here?

I have included our e-mail stream.

What do you think?

A:This is the kind of discussion that's usually held between a shipper and a carrier, but it's instructive withal.

Evidently this is a claim on an interline shipment for which you and the other carrier are jointly liable. A claim was …